Hanstholm fortress
Encyclopedia
Hanstholm fortress was a large sea fortress, constructed by Germany
at Hanstholm
in north-western Denmark
during World War II
. The fortress was part of the "Atlantic Wall
" and its main purpose was to seal off the entrance to Skagerrak
together with the Vara fortress in Kristiansand
, southern Norway
, as well as with the extensive minefields in Skagerrak. The fortress had a wide range of artillery, ranging from medium-sized 17 cm guns up to four massive 38 cm S.K.C/34 guns, weighing 110 tonnes each (the whole gun position weighing 650 tonnes). The guns were protected by 3.5 m of reinforced concrete and many anti-aircraft guns. The 38 cm guns were similar to the ones fitted to the Bismarck class
battleships and had been intended for Gneisenau
. However, after Gneisenau was damaged in a bomb raid, a decision was made not to fit the guns to the ship, but to use them instead in stationary fortresses. The guns could fire a 495 kg projectile 55 km, or a 800 kg shell 42 km. The rate of fire was 1 shot per 1.5 minutes. It was manned by the German Naval Artillery Battalion 118. The 38 cm guns were scrapped in 1951-52. Today, the remains of the fortress function as a museum.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
at Hanstholm
Hanstholm
Hanstholm is a small town and a former island, now elevated area in Thisted municipality of Region Nordjylland, located in the northern part of Denmark. Coordinates:...
in north-western Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The fortress was part of the "Atlantic Wall
Atlantic Wall
The Atlantic Wall was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by Nazi Germany between 1942 and 1944 along the western coast of Europe as a defense against an anticipated Allied invasion of the mainland continent from Great Britain.-History:On March 23, 1942 Führer Directive Number 40...
" and its main purpose was to seal off the entrance to Skagerrak
Skagerrak
The Skagerrak is a strait running between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark, connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat sea area, which leads to the Baltic Sea.-Name:...
together with the Vara fortress in Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
, southern Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, as well as with the extensive minefields in Skagerrak. The fortress had a wide range of artillery, ranging from medium-sized 17 cm guns up to four massive 38 cm S.K.C/34 guns, weighing 110 tonnes each (the whole gun position weighing 650 tonnes). The guns were protected by 3.5 m of reinforced concrete and many anti-aircraft guns. The 38 cm guns were similar to the ones fitted to the Bismarck class
Bismarck class battleship
The Bismarck class was a pair of battleships built by the German Kriegsmarine shortly before the outbreak of World War II. The ships were the largest warships built by the German Navy and the heaviest capital ships ever completed in Europe...
battleships and had been intended for Gneisenau
German battleship Gneisenau
Gneisenau was a German capital ship, alternatively described as a battleship and battlecruiser, of the German Kriegsmarine. She was the second vessel of her class, which included one other ship, Scharnhorst. The ship was built at the Deutsche Werke dockyard in Kiel; she was laid down on 6 May 1935...
. However, after Gneisenau was damaged in a bomb raid, a decision was made not to fit the guns to the ship, but to use them instead in stationary fortresses. The guns could fire a 495 kg projectile 55 km, or a 800 kg shell 42 km. The rate of fire was 1 shot per 1.5 minutes. It was manned by the German Naval Artillery Battalion 118. The 38 cm guns were scrapped in 1951-52. Today, the remains of the fortress function as a museum.
German units at Hanstholm fortress
| Unit | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 1./M.A.A. 118 | 4x 17 cm 2x 2 cm FlaK 2x 110 cm searchlights 2x 90 cm searchlights (Danish) 2x 7.5 cm field guns (Polish) 6x 2.5 cm FlaK Hotschkiss |
| 2./M.A.A. 118 | 4x 38 cm 6x 7.5 cm field guns 2x 4.7 cm fortress anti-tank guns 5x medium flamethrowers 6x light flamethrowers 3x heavy mortars |
| 1. M.Fl.A. 814 | 4x 10.5 cm FlaK 4x 3.7 cm FlaK 7x 2 cm FlaK |
| 2. M.Fl.A. 814 | 4x 7.5 cm FlaK Vickers |
| 3. M.Fl.A. 814 | 4x 7.5 cm FlaK Vickers |
| 4. M.Fl.A. 814 | 4x 7.5 cm FlaK Vickers |
| 7. M.Fl.A. 814 | 11x 150 cm searchlights 4x 60 cm searchlights |